S1E113 - Viable Hospitality and Valuable Wisdom from Hotelier Chip Conley
Michael Krasny began this episode with author, hotelier and long-time wisdom seeker Chip Conley, who was in Baja, talking about the terrible fires in Los Angeles and what if any lessons can be learned from them. They spoke of wisdom seeking and Conley of the metaphor for our lives of a rental car as well as his ongoing struggle with cancer, which he calls his teacher. Krasny brought up wrong headed views of cancer that place too much blame on the individual self and they spoke of environmental and so-called lifestyle effects tied to it and then proceeded to discuss identity and what Conley, a gay man, has called "identity cleansing." The two also discussed Conley's history as a hotelier and his philosophy of hospitality, including how to deal with so-called "A-holes," as well as Conley's thoughts about seeking and finding joy. A good deal of this rich and highly illuminating conversation included talk of aging and shifting views of longevity, as well as ritual and the changing nature of the workplace and the role AI is likely to play in our future. The role and importance of mentorship also came up as did the significance of love. Conley spoke of his years of leadership at Airbnb, what he means by being a super host and what he calls karmic capitalism and the importance of imprint in memory.
Biography
Chip Conley is Co-founder and Executive Chairman of MEA (formerly Modern Elder Academy) and a renowned entrepreneur, best-selling author, and dynamic speaker celebrated for his innovative approach to leadership and hospitality. As the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, he expanded a single boutique hotel into the second-largest boutique hotel brand in the U.S. In 2013, he joined Airbnb as Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, mentoring its founders and helping shape its culture during a rapid growth phase. Inspired by his midlife journey, experience at Airbnb, and extensive research and collaboration with thought leaders in the area of aging, Chip co-founded the Modern Elder Academy (MEA), the world’s first midlife wisdom school. With campuses in Baja and Santa Fe, MEA offers transformative programs to help individuals navigate midlife transitions and cultivate a renewed sense of purpose. A prolific author of several influential books, including Wisdom@Work and Learning to Love Midlife, Chip continues to inspire and reframe the concept of aging through his writing and keynote speeches.
Conversation recorded on January 10, 2025.